Journal Preface

Preface

I've recently been transcribing my journals of 1981, and realizing that those parts dealing with hang gliding might be of interest, not only to me, but to those flying friends who shared the sky with me in those good old days, when we were so young and enthusiastic, twenty years ago.

And then it occurred to me that these pages might also have some interest to those who weren't yet flying with us, to give a taste of those early days of Sonoma Wings, to share the adventures we had, and the history we made.

They might even be of interest to some who have never flown at all, who want a vicarious taste of the life of those of us addicted to hang gliding, who live through each week in anticipation of our weekend adventures in the sky.

So I thought I might publish them for you, my friends, old and new, in Sonoma Wings and beyond, in grateful tribute to the times we've shared, playing in the sky together over these last two decades and more.

So here they are, my day-by-day narratives of our hang gliding adventures, beginning in the Spring of 1981, my third season of mountain flying, as it was for several of my friends of those days, some of whom, like me, are still flying, and still savoring the joys of flight.

This publication could have begun with 1980, when Sonoma Wings was first born, or with 1979, when I first began flying in the mountains of Mendocino National Forest, or even with 1977, when I took my first hang gliding lessons at Dillon Beach, except that those volumes have yet to be transcribed, and this is the volume that inspired the project. Maybe I'll eventually get around to those earlier years as well.

By rereading these pages, I find I am able to bring back those glory days in nearly all their richness and fullness, and I hope they do as much for those of you who were there. And for the rest of you, I hope they tell a story worth reading and enjoying.

Ralph Hyde

January, 2001

If you do read some of these pages, I would love to hear any comments you'd like to make. You can write me at: ralphnjulie@hotmail.com

That way I'll know if they are enjoyed, and worth sharing, and I'll be inspired to continue the project.

Volume 26 - March 9, 1981 - May 18, 1981

Volume 26b - May 18, 1981 - July 22, 1981

Volume 26c - July 22, 1981 - October 4, 1981

Volume 27 - October 5, 1981 - March 28, 1982

Volume 27b - March 28, 1982 - June 7, 1982

Volume 28 - June 8, 1982 - August 16, 1982

Volume 28b - August 16, 1982 - January 22, 1983

Volume 29 - January 22, 1983 - May 8, 1983